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Geocache Description:

The listed coordinates are not the actual coordinates.

They are for a tree of historic significance located near the parking area. After a ferocious gun fight this is the tree Ted and James Oswald crashed into after committing a bank robbery, taking a hostage, and murdering Waukesha Police Department Captain James Lutz on April 28, 1994. The scars are still evident on the tree. See video.

Update April 28, 2014. On the 20th Anniversary of the shootout I got permission to show this law enforcement training video that documents the events of that day. See video.

Update 2011: Tree has been cut down.

To find this cache you must first solve the puzzle below. Once you solve it you will have the coordinates for the first marker. From that point it is a straight forward four stop multi.

The Wisconsin State Police are missing their log book. Can you help them find it? The captain checked with all patrol divisions including boat, bike, foot, and even horse. the consensus seems to be it was last being carried by young officer Chet, but he went on vacation and must be out of cell phone range. We found pages of his notes and logs from his recent patrols. Is there some code or puzzle in them that can reveal the coordinates of the missing book? We believe there is, but the best detectives have failed so far. Feel free to look them over and see if you can solve the puzzle.

The Logs

August 20: Dispatch notified me of a visitor present in my office. It was a teenager who had been trying to locate some CD’s. From our previous interview I had learned each of six teen friends are sharing the music by lending a CD of his or her favorite group to one of the other five. From the clues below, you should be able to determine which CD each of the six owns and who is borrowing and currently enjoying it.

The six music sharers are Ben, the girl who owns the Cake CD, the boy who is borrowing the 3 Doors Down CD, Wendy, the teenager who owns the CD by No Doubt, and the one who is currently listening to another's Train CD.

Two of the boys are borrowing music owned by two of the girls; the boy who is listening to another boy's favorite has his Matchbox Twenty CD.

Wendy, who isn't the teen who owns the 3 Doors Down CD, isn't the person who is borrowing the Cake music.

Trisha is borrowing neither the Barenaked Ladies nor the No Doubt CD.

James is borrowing neither the Cake nor the Matchbox Twenty CD.

Ben isn't the friend who is listening to Cindy's favorite group, and Cindy isn't the one listening to Kevin's loaned CD.

The teen who is borrowing the No Doubt CD doesn't own the Barenaked Ladies music.

Aug 13: I started to radio dispatch but they quickly told me to stop transmitting. It was soon apparent that something big had occurred. A murder!

Detective Cobbs had just finished examining the body of Debbie Layne which was lying on couch in her plush living room.

"Mrs. Layne was hit on the back of her head 3 or 4 times with the butt of that pistol," the sleuth said.

The .45 lay on the floor near the body. The Sheriff was dusting the weapon for fingerprints.

"I've telephoned her husband at his office and only told him to come home, I dislike breaking bad news. Will you do it?", the sheriff said.

"I'll do it," said Cobbs as he watched the body being removed from the scene. Then he took a seat in a lounge chair to wait for Mr. Layne.

The Ambulance drove away just as Mr. Layne arrived. He came into the living room and asked, "Where's Debbie? What's happened?"

"I'm sorry to have to tell you that she was murdered about 3 hours ago," said Cobbs. "Your cleaning lady found the body and called the sheriff."

"I can't find any fingerprints on this gun," said the sheriff. "I'll send it to the lab."

"Save your money," said Cobbs. "The murderer won't be that hard to find."

How the heck did Detective Cobbs know?

Aug 17: I was talking to dispatch to advise the number of my new cell phone but all heck had broken loose. Another murder! This time Detective Cobbs found the notorious gangster Scarface Joe found lying face down on the bar room floor. A bullet had entered his left ear and must have lodged somewhere in his brain as there was no exit wound.

The bullet matched the gun that was owned by Bernie the Bull, another hoodlum, and Joe's rival gang member. It was well known that they hated each other but frequented the same bar.

Bernie said that he was the only customer in the bar when Joe came in and started yelling at him. "He was like a madman," said Bernie. "He pulled out a knife and started coming at me. I shot him in self-defense as he charged head-on at me swinging that knife." Joe's body lying close by still had the knife clutched in his left hand. "He just wouldn't stop coming at me," exclaimed Bernie. "I had to shoot, I had no choice."

The only witness was the bartender, another shady character, who agreed with Bernie's story.

Detective Cobbs just smiled and said, "you boys will have time to think of something better than that story on the way to the slammer."

Why didn’t Cobbs believe them?

Aug 15: Detective Cobbs was on his way to the big auto show when he decided to visit his old friend, Dr. Sam. At Sam's home he was shocked to learn that just two days earlier his long time friend had hanged himself.

Dispatch acknowledged it was ok for me to tag along and help with the case.

"Sam was in excellent health and spirits when I heard from him last week," Cobbs told the sheriff. "I can't believe he committed suicide."

"But he did---I investigated it myself," said the sheriff. "Here's how it all happened."

"Pete Porter, Sam's manservant, was returning to the house late that night when he spotted a light in the attic. As Porter got out of his car, he saw through the open attic window Sam knotting a rope around his neck. The other end was tied to a rafter. Then he saw Sam calmly kick away the small stool he was standing on, and that was the end.

"Porter found the house locked. He had forgotten his key; so he went to the neighbor to call me." "He repeated to me exactly what I've just told you," said the sheriff.

"When I arrived at Sam's house, I had to force the front door open." Porter and I then ran up the three floors to the attic. Sam was dead. The coroner has no doubt that death was from hanging."

"The attic floor was clear except for the little stool that lay overturned by the door," concluded the sheriff.

"Let's go out to the house," said Cobbs. "From everything you've told me about Porter's story, I can tell you he's lying!"

How in the world did Cobbs know that Porter was lying?

Aug 12: I was reading some old reports when the radio went off. Dispatch had information for me. Detective Cobbs said I could observe his investigation in Rocky Point.

"I'm telling you, Cobbs," said John Dough, "inheriting the Dough millions has had some nerve racking moments. Do you remember Frack, the butler?"

"A smiling and mild mannered chap," said Cobbs

"That's the guy. I fired him after inheriting the house in Rocky Point. Well, two days ago he came to my office and demanded one hundred thousand dollars. He claimed to have been in the study when my father drew up another will, naming his brother sole heir."

"You believed him?"

"I confess the news was quite a shocker. Dad and I had an argument over Marilyn sometime during the last week of June. Dad opposed the marriage, and it seemed possible that he had cut me off."

"Frack said he has this second will, which he said would be worth a lot more than the blackmail money he was asking for. He said the new will was dated June 31, only one day newer than the old will, but it would be legally recognized he claimed."

"You didn't pay him, I hope?" asked Cobbs.

"I paid---with my boot to the seat of his pants."

"Perfect," agreed Cobbs. "Imagine trying to peddle a story like that!?

What did Cobbs know? Why did they decide not to pay Frack?

Aug 18: I was having a donut when dispatch advised me to meet a complainant named Mr. Merril. I was to update him on the progress of the investigation. Later I found Dr. Gall who was being briefed by Winters.

"The whole force is looking for Izzy the Balloon Man who kidnapped little Doug Merril, " Detective Winters said to Dr. Gall.

"Doesn't anyone know where Izzy hangs out?"

"Nobody knows anything about him," replied the Detective. "Once a week he stops his old truck by the Merril estate and gives out popcorn and mouse-shaped pink balloons. The kids love the funny faces he makes as he puts the balloons to his lips and huffs and puffs.

"Last Thursday Izzy made his usual stop and drove off -- or so it appeared. Later, Seth Motts and the Reverend Brown were in Seth's backyard, which abuts the Merril property. Seth noticed one of Izzy's balloons stuck high in his oak tree.

"Since there was no wind to blow it loose, Seth got a long ladder and climbed into the tree. From that height -- about twenty feet -- he could see over the Merril's twelve-foot wall.

"Sam says that as he released the balloon he glanced into the Merril yard and saw the Balloon Man put young Doug into his truck and drive off. He told the minister what he'd seen. Neither man thought much of it till they heard that Doug was missing.

"Yesterday," concluded the Detective, "Doug’s father received a note stating that Doug was being held for ransom, and that instructions would follow."

"Putting together everything you've told me," said Gall. "I think both Doug and the Balloon Man have been kidnapped!"

Why does Gall think this?

Aug 19: I was trying to contact Detective Cobbs but dispatch advised me he was busy. There was trouble at the marina so I went myself. I pulled up and observed this scene.

"Thank heaven you saw me!" exclaimed Ted Long as he feebly helped make fast his battered yawl to Dr. Gall's chartered fishing boat.

Gall reached over the side and assisted the bedraggled yachtsman aboard.

Long staggered into the shade of the cabin and sagged upon a berth. He removed his cap to wipe the perspiration from his brow, revealing a bald, freckled head.

"Drink this," said Gall, holding out a cup of water.

Long gulped it frantically, asked for a second, and when he had downed it, told of his ordeal.

"Bill Smith and I were sailing for Bimini when the storm hit us. The sails, rudder, and radio went in the first five minutes. We barely managed to keep afloat.

"We drifted five days, lost. Three days ago our fresh water supply gave out. Bill went crazy with the heat and thirst. He started to drink the oily engine discharge water. I tried to restrain him -- I hit him. He -- he struck his head against the starboard rail. He's dead! It's my fault!"

Gall climbed into Long's disheveled yacht. In the little cabin he found Bill Smith laid out on his back, dead. The criminologist studied the bruise on Smith's jaw and the one at the base of his skull.

Back on the fishing boat, he warned Long grimly, "You're going to have to tell the police a better tale than the one you told me!"

Why didn’t Gall believe Long?

Aug 14: Notified dispatch I was in service. Pretty slow night no calls. I hope I remembered to set the DVR to record the Cops marathon on TV tonight. My favorite clip is the rookie officer chasing a chicken.

Cobbs said he knew that would be my favorite!

How is it possible he knew that?

Aug 16: Once again I went to radio dispatch and they quickly advised me to stop transmitting. There was a big hullabaloo by the evidence room so I went to check it out.

Tony Jack's worldly possessions were laid out on a small table in the big room. They consisted of a T-shirt, sneakers, and white cotton trousers. In a pocket of the trousers was a card.

The card read: July 28. Your wght, 173 lbs.; Your fortune, You will enjoy a long life.

"His life lasted 22 years," Detective Cobbs told Dr. Gall.

"Late last night," said the Detective, "we got a call to come to the carnival. Somebody had started up a Ferris wheel. We found a male corpse jack-knifed over a strut. At first I thought the guy had been beaten to death -- his face was so battered. Then I recognized Tony.

"Last night Tony fought Killer Malone for the state middleweight title," he continued. "Tony took a pounding. We know he left the arena still pretty dazed. He must have come out to the carnival. He used to be a roustabout, and he knew his way around.

"It looks like he got here after closing," said the Detective, "used the scale, and then started up the big wheel. He took a ride and fell out. The medical examiner says he died instantly,"

The famed criminologist contemplated Tony's possessions.

"He might have been killed elsewhere and hung on the strut," said Gall. "I heard rumors of a fix in the Malone fight.

"It looks to me like Tony refused to take a dive and the mob made him pay the full price. The killers apparently did a clumsy job. To avoid giving themselves away, they changed his clothes and staged the scene out at the Ferris wheel."

How did Gall know?

Those are all the notes. You will need your own pen. Good luck! After snowfall stage two may be difficult to find. But you can always work on the puzzle during winter!